Comparison of the Antianhedonic Effects of Repeated-dose Intravenous Ketamine in Older and Younger Adults with Major Depressive Episode.
Current neuropharmacology January 1, 2025 Wei Zheng, Limei Gu, Jianqiang Tan et al. 1 citation
Repeated intravenous ketamine infusions rapidly reduce anhedonia in both younger and older adults with major depressive episodes, but older patients show a weaker response. In a study of 135 patients (116 younger, 19 older) receiving six ketamine infusions over 12 days, anhedonia scores dropped significantly in both age groups within 4 hours of the first infusion, with effects maintained throughout treatment. By day 26, younger patients had lower anhedonia scores than older patients. The antianhedonic response rate was 51.7% in younger patients versus 31.6% in older patients, and remission occurred in 24.1% of younger patients but none of the older patients.